Oil and gas production can produce a lot of noise. In some cases, the noise levels can be so high that they can be harmful to the people living near the production sites. To protect the people living near the production sites, various types of oil and gas sound walls have been developed.
There are many different types of sound walls, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Some noise barriers can reduce noise from adjacent properties, while others may be more effective at blocking out noise from the outside environment. Choosing the correct type of sound wall for your specific needs is important.
What Purpose Do Noise Barriers Serve?
Noise barriers are typically composed of a material with good sound insulation, such as concrete or metal. When used together with other construction techniques, like vibration isolation and soundproofing, noise barriers can help reduce noise pollution in an area. They can also be used to protect people working in noisy environments.
Metal Noise Barriers
Metal walls are generally solid, durable, and capable of reducing noise to up to 28 dB. Since noise may leak, the blockage must have a good mass of 10 kilograms per square meter. Metal Noise Barrier options conceal potential distractions.
They may be either transparent or reflective, and the reflective soundproof barriers can create an echo effect in select applications. Metal noise barriers are the far better preference in industrial or commercial properties since they are less welcoming in appearance than the sound barriers created by other barrier types.
Concrete Noise Barriers
Although concrete creates loud reverberations, this material is suitable in noisy environments, including airports or spaces with heavy machinery. Concrete noise barriers are relatively expensive and may be intrusive due to their height and thickness, but they offer the best performance of all noise barriers of up to 50dB.
Brick Noise Barriers
Unlike concrete, brick noise barriers are more expensive and visually attractive than their concrete equivalent. The installation length needed for brick noise barriers must be met by skilled brick layers, making it more costly on larger sites. The noise reduction potential of their bricks reaches 40db.
Earth Bunds
Earth bunds are predominantly large mounds found at the edge of a site; they are used for directing water flow and are also an effective noise barrier. As earth bunds require a lot of room, architects or developers may prefer other compact noise barriers, such as fences. Earth bunds also require maintenance to control plant growth, especially around the edges.
Gabion Walls
A gabion wall is an attractive, well-performing, and sturdy boundary marker that can reduce noise. One-meter-thick gabion walls are the most effective. Gabion walls are visually noticeable due to their height; a meter-thick wall minimizes the noise by around 60 dB. The wire cages that constitute the wall are constructed of wire mesh that can be corroded and entangle litter and other debris.
With such a wide range of noise barriers, it’s challenging to be sure which is the best for your locale. These types of noise barriers feature adequate acoustic fencing designed for applications in a range of locations.